GE's Security business announced that the next generation of the Facility
Commander command and control integration platform, Version 2.1, offers both
expanded integration functionalities and a powerful new drag-and-drop camera
feature. A standards-based command and control integration platform,
Facility Commander 2.1 lets organizations integrate multiple aspects of
their security and facility management, including access control, video
surveillance and alarm management functions, within a single screen.

"What's been needed for both IT and physical access is a complete command
and control integration platform that integrates many aspects of security
and facility management within a single interface," said George Martinez,
director of product management, Engineered Systems. "Facility Commander 2.1
is just such a platform, providing an open architecture with
interoperability between several types of security domains, such as access
control, video, and intercom. An event from one system can automatically
trigger actions to occur in other systems. For example, a door alarm can
cause an automatic display of video at the security guard's console."

Facility Commander integrates access control, digital video, analog CCTV
matrix switchers, intercom, and intrusion systems. Built-in drivers support
GE's Picture PerfectT and Secure Perfect access control systems. The
product uses the latest components in Java technology, is based on IT
standards, and runs on commercial off-the-shelf platforms. Facility
Commander provides interoperability between security systems from different
vendors and gives the security operator a single, intuitive console that can
manage these different systems.

Version 2.1 features include:Additional Analog CCTV Switcher Support. In addition to the
GE family of matrix switchers, Pelco's CM 97x0 and Bosch' LTC 8x00 Allegiant
families of matrix switchers are now supported. When the system receives
alarms or events, cameras are automatically switched to specified monitors.

View Video from Multiple Video IQ Systems. GE's Video IQ
is a powerful video analysis system that detects the actual presence of
people, not motion, in the camera's view. Upon people detection, Facility
Commander 2.1 automatically displays video from multiple Video IQ systems
using GE's DVMRe's.

Expanded Intrusion System Functionality. In addition to
supporting GE's Alliance/ATS intrusion panels, in which panel, area, and
input definitions let users receive input alarms, monitor area status, and
arm/disarm areas, Version 2.1 adds support for Data Gathering Panels (DGPs),
keypads, and outputs. Operators can now receive events from DGPs and
keypads, activate outputs connected to the Alliance/ATS panel, and set DGPs,
inputs, and keypads to bypass mode.

Drag and Drop Camera Feature. This new feature works for
both analog and digital video devices. CCTV monitor icons can be placed on
graphical maps to mirror the actual monitor configuration that the security
operator has in his console area. With the new drag and drop camera
feature, the operator can easily drag a camera from the navigation tree to a
monitor icon and have the video switched immediately to that monitor.